JD 2520 vs: 5103

[RobbP]

Hello - I am new to this forum (first post), so let me say, what a great resource. I have been reading around here for a few days, and feel ready to ask my questions:

My wife and I purchased 12 ac last fall, and are planning on breaking ground on our new horsestead in the next 60 days. The land is a fallow potato field in rural hastings FL. Horse work, mostly manure management, pasture mowing (appx 10 acs pasture), driveway and road grading, with the possibility of lawn grooming.

Two tractor dealerships in town, one JD one Kbta. I wanted to look at Kubota's, wife is a green biggot. So green is where we are spending our time.

In looking at the options, the 2520 seems optimal for my price tolerance and needs, I even demo'd one this past weekend with a 60" bush hog and mowed my land. I like the HST and 4WD, and would probably go with a loader, 6' finish mower, and 5 or 6' box blade initially. (suggestions most welcome) - price around 18K.

So all was looking like it was settled, then I saw a billboard from the JD dealer for a 50HP 5103 for $480 more than the 2520! OK, so the 5103 is 2WD and doesn't have HST. Can anyone give me a good reason not to seriously consider this machine over the 2520?

Thanks,
Robb

 

[RobbP]

Hello - I am new to this forum (first post), so let me say, what a great resource. I have been reading around here for a few days, and feel ready to ask my questions:

My wife and I purchased 12 ac last fall, and are planning on breaking ground on our new horsestead in the next 60 days. The land is a fallow potato field in rural hastings FL. Horse work, mostly manure management, pasture mowing (appx 10 acs pasture), driveway and road grading, with the possibility of lawn grooming.

Two tractor dealerships in town, one JD one Kbta. I wanted to look at Kubota's, wife is a green biggot. So green is where we are spending our time.

In looking at the options, the 2520 seems optimal for my price tolerance and needs, I even demo'd one this past weekend with a 60" bush hog and mowed my land. I like the HST and 4WD, and would probably go with a loader, 6' finish mower, and 5 or 6' box blade initially. (suggestions most welcome) - price around 18K.

So all was looking like it was settled, then I saw a billboard from the JD dealer for a 50HP 5103 for $480 more than the 2520! OK, so the 5103 is 2WD and doesn't have HST. Can anyone give me a good reason not to seriously consider this machine over the 2520?

Thanks,
Robb

 

[KiotiJohn]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. I had a patient in Hastings last week, actually who died last week in her home. Potato capital of Florida!

I saw that big Kubota dealer as I was coming in. They sure have a lot of tractors on the lot.

What a shame your wife is a JD biggot, as most modern tractors being offered today are generally just as good.

The only reservation I would have with the 2WD tractor is that I never want another tractor that doesn't have 4WD and a loader.
It just makes it so much easier to do work in wet areas when you need to load the bucket up fully. Without it, the tires get pushed down in the muck, and the tractor has work harder to get it up out of it. With 4WD, it pulls and pushes it up and out.

Granted, 50 HP is usually enough to overcome most of the resistance, but I'd still prefer 4WD. For the money though, it may make sense. What else would you be giving up by going with the larger tractor? I haven't checked the specifics simply because I'm a little tired or reading at the moment!

Keep in mind that if you want a loader, you may have to pay extra for the valve and joystick, so the price you saw on the billboard may not reflect the true final price.

This thread really should have been in the JD forum, but what the heck. You can't read! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just kidding!

John

 

[KiotiJohn]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. I had a patient in Hastings last week, actually who died last week in her home. Potato capital of Florida!

I saw that big Kubota dealer as I was coming in. They sure have a lot of tractors on the lot.

What a shame your wife is a JD biggot, as most modern tractors being offered today are generally just as good.

The only reservation I would have with the 2WD tractor is that I never want another tractor that doesn't have 4WD and a loader.
It just makes it so much easier to do work in wet areas when you need to load the bucket up fully. Without it, the tires get pushed down in the muck, and the tractor has work harder to get it up out of it. With 4WD, it pulls and pushes it up and out.

Granted, 50 HP is usually enough to overcome most of the resistance, but I'd still prefer 4WD. For the money though, it may make sense. What else would you be giving up by going with the larger tractor? I haven't checked the specifics simply because I'm a little tired or reading at the moment!

Keep in mind that if you want a loader, you may have to pay extra for the valve and joystick, so the price you saw on the billboard may not reflect the true final price.

This thread really should have been in the JD forum, but what the heck. You can't read! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just kidding!

John

 

[RobbP]

Thanks John... you are probably right about the JD forum, but in a sideways fashion, am looking for fuel to convince my wife to look at Orange (and actually, there is a brand new Branson dealer just down the road bout 10 miles in Palatka)

I am not sold on the idea of a FEL - everyone who wants to give me advice (which is indeed everyone) says I should get one. I'll find needs for it.

This big differences between the 2 are the 4WD and transmission type. The wife would not like the manual transmission - she tried a 790 and sumarrily dismissed it. The 5103 is a straddle type operator seat, where the 2520 is a platform. I guess I should really go drive a 5103, shouldn't I?

 

[RobbP]

Thanks John... you are probably right about the JD forum, but in a sideways fashion, am looking for fuel to convince my wife to look at Orange (and actually, there is a brand new Branson dealer just down the road bout 10 miles in Palatka)

I am not sold on the idea of a FEL - everyone who wants to give me advice (which is indeed everyone) says I should get one. I'll find needs for it.

This big differences between the 2 are the 4WD and transmission type. The wife would not like the manual transmission - she tried a 790 and sumarrily dismissed it. The 5103 is a straddle type operator seat, where the 2520 is a platform. I guess I should really go drive a 5103, shouldn't I?

 

[KiotiJohn]

The ladder frame tractors, as of old, are not as comfortable to me after hours of use, so yes, the platform probably is more desirable.

I think your wife and you owe it to yourselves to look at many other models including Mahindra, Branson, Kioti, New Holland etc.

With 10ac of pasture to mow, you're going to want a large mower or spend all day cutting. I would think at least a 6' mower which could be pulled by a 30HP tractor. Check out Bigtractorsupply.com over in Lawtey on 301, not that far from you. He sells Kioti tractors, delivers free within 100 miles, and a CK30 may be something your wife could really like. It has a lot of bells and whistles for the money, is easy to hook things to, great on fuel and HST is available. Mahindras are pretty good too, I just don't like anything with a Mitsubishi engine, never have, but that's a personal thing. Some Mahindras actually use or used Daedong engines from Kioti.

Front end loader, to me, is a must. What are you planning on shoveling the manure with? A shovel? You'll get tired of that!
There are MANY more uses for a FEL than you can think of now. I have even used mine to water plants too far away to bring a hose to. I've mixed and poured concrete in it. You NEED one, you just don't know it yet!

I don't know if you're going to be building a stable, I would think you are, so you're not going to want to get too big on the tractor or you'll have a hard time working in there.

If you ever want to come up to Jacksonville and try out my smaller CK20, you're welcome to. I'll private message you my phone number. I'm planning on being down at Big Lake George to hog some property down there this coming weekend if you'd like to come down. When I PM you, you'll see a little flashing mail icon next to MAIN MENU at the top of the page. Click on that and follow the links to read the mail.

John

 

[KiotiJohn]

The ladder frame tractors, as of old, are not as comfortable to me after hours of use, so yes, the platform probably is more desirable.

I think your wife and you owe it to yourselves to look at many other models including Mahindra, Branson, Kioti, New Holland etc.

With 10ac of pasture to mow, you're going to want a large mower or spend all day cutting. I would think at least a 6' mower which could be pulled by a 30HP tractor. Check out Bigtractorsupply.com over in Lawtey on 301, not that far from you. He sells Kioti tractors, delivers free within 100 miles, and a CK30 may be something your wife could really like. It has a lot of bells and whistles for the money, is easy to hook things to, great on fuel and HST is available. Mahindras are pretty good too, I just don't like anything with a Mitsubishi engine, never have, but that's a personal thing. Some Mahindras actually use or used Daedong engines from Kioti.

Front end loader, to me, is a must. What are you planning on shoveling the manure with? A shovel? You'll get tired of that!
There are MANY more uses for a FEL than you can think of now. I have even used mine to water plants too far away to bring a hose to. I've mixed and poured concrete in it. You NEED one, you just don't know it yet!

I don't know if you're going to be building a stable, I would think you are, so you're not going to want to get too big on the tractor or you'll have a hard time working in there.

If you ever want to come up to Jacksonville and try out my smaller CK20, you're welcome to. I'll private message you my phone number. I'm planning on being down at Big Lake George to hog some property down there this coming weekend if you'd like to come down. When I PM you, you'll see a little flashing mail icon next to MAIN MENU at the top of the page. Click on that and follow the links to read the mail.

John

 

[riptides]

Welcome to TBN. The John Deere forums await you.
But, heck man, for a first choice with your lot and wife, you seemed to have a good match. 4WD, FEL and HST. That seems like a pretty good match to me. The 5103 is classified as an AG tractor, 50HP is sweet, but from what you have said, 4WD, FEL and HST may be a better fit for you, the wife and your task list.

You can read up on the JD machines in the other forum.

-Mike Z.

 

[riptides]

Welcome to TBN. The John Deere forums await you.
But, heck man, for a first choice with your lot and wife, you seemed to have a good match. 4WD, FEL and HST. That seems like a pretty good match to me. The 5103 is classified as an AG tractor, 50HP is sweet, but from what you have said, 4WD, FEL and HST may be a better fit for you, the wife and your task list.

You can read up on the JD machines in the other forum.

-Mike Z.